Lady Sparrow

Rating:
Summary: not the usual Barbara Metzger fare, but still enjoyable
Review: "Lady Sparrow" is not the usual laugh-a-minute Barbara Metzger Regency romance novel that I've come to expect from her. It is much darker in tone (esp when one compares it to earlier works such as "The Painted Lady" & "Miss Westlake's Windfall"); nevertheless the book was still an engaging and engrossing read, and one that is definitely worth recommending.

Minerva Caldwell was barely eighteen when her father, shipyard magnate Malachy Caldwell, married her off to aging roue, Harold Sparr, the Earl of Sparrowdale. After five years of ill use and neglect, Minerva is now a very rich widow (esp since her father had seem fit to pass on within weeks of her husband's death), and Minerva could not be happier. To be rich and independent with nary a male relation to tell her what she can or cannot do! And then Minerva stumbles onto one of her dead husband's many secrets. It seems that the old man had fathered quite a few illegitimate children, all of whom he was caring for in a rather haphazard fashion. Determined to do right by these children (esp since she knows that the new earl will not), Minerva decides to track down the children and to offer them a home with her, and monetary assistance. But how is she to go about doing this without risking being taken advantage of by charlatans? That's when Minerva decides to hire Lord Lowell, a private inquiry agent, to help her. But when she does meet Lord Lowell, she is a little put off by the fact that he is quite young, the younger son of a duke and rather good looking. However, Lord Lowell's intelligence, kindness and good humour soon wins her over, as does his agreement to take on her case, and to allow her to take an active part in the investigation. Soon, Lord Lowell and Minerva are scurrying about London, going from one private adoption home to another, looking for the missing Sparr by-blows. The task is not an easy one, esp when Minerva comes to realise that someone is hell-bent on thwarting their efforts and that she is in danger of losing her heart to her reserved and quite above her touch Lord Lowell.

"Lady Sparrow" is quite a taking and engaging novel, even if it is not a very lighthearted one. Both Minerva's and Lord Lowell's characters are rather well developed (esp Minerva), as was their romance. And they were such nice and likable characters (without coming across as pushovers) that it would have been really difficult not to take them completely. But what I particularly liked about this novel was that both characters first developed an admiration and liking for each other's characters before they fell, inevitably, in love with each other. It made for a nice change of pace -- for character to come before lust, instead of the other way around. All in all, a rather enjoyable read

Rating:
Summary: Stylish, witty, character-driven - lots of fun too!
Review: A mixed bag of reviews, I note, for this Barbara Metzger story. I liked it immensley. Not only do we have a sweet heroine and a kind-hearted hero but we also have an entertaining adventure and mystery. The concept of a duke's second son (and a spectacle wearer at that!) setting up as a regency Lord Peter Wimsey was clever and unusual.

Minerva, the widowed Lady Sparrowdale is the daughter of a cit and Lord Lowell, the endearing second son who doesn't have enough money to live up to the standards expected of him, gradually fall in love whilst looking for a seemingly unlimited number of by-blows from Minerva's late husband.

Although Metzger is a master of the beautifully written regency comedy, she does here hit on a number of serious points. Minerva's late husband pursued virgins in a quest for a "cure" for rampant VD (based on fact - this was a well known belief at the time); the by-blows grow up in poverty; Lord Lowell denies himself a family because of his straightened financial circumstances and Minerva shoulders responsibility for a financial empire. Some meaty issues here which provide a background note to the banter and comedy Metzger does so well. I particularly liked Harkness, the multi-purpose butler - especially with a noted butler in the news right now!

I always enjoy Metzger and this was no exception. I think Lord Peter Wimsey would have recognised his predecessor, Lord Lowell the Regency PI. I do recommend this!

Rating:
Summary: Stylish, witty, character-driven - lots of fun too!
Review: A mixed bag of reviews, I note, for this Barbara Metzger story. I liked it immensley. Not only do we have a sweet heroine and a kind-hearted hero but we also have an entertaining adventure and mystery. The concept of a duke's second son (and a spectacle wearer at that!) setting up as a regency Lord Peter Wimsey was clever and unusual.

Minerva, the widowed Lady Sparrowdale is the daughter of a cit and Lord Lowell, the endearing second son who doesn't have enough money to live up to the standards expected of him, gradually fall in love whilst looking for a seemingly unlimited number of by-blows from Minerva's late husband.

Although Metzger is a master of the beautifully written regency comedy, she does here hit on a number of serious points. Minerva's late husband pursued virgins in a quest for a "cure" for rampant VD (based on fact - this was a well known belief at the time); the by-blows grow up in poverty; Lord Lowell denies himself a family because of his straightened financial circumstances and Minerva shoulders responsibility for a financial empire. Some meaty issues here which provide a background note to the banter and comedy Metzger does so well. I particularly liked Harkness, the multi-purpose butler - especially with a noted butler in the news right now!

I always enjoy Metzger and this was no exception. I think Lord Peter Wimsey would have recognised his predecessor, Lord Lowell the Regency PI. I do recommend this!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful romance!
Review: After five years of marriage Minerva Caldwell's cruel old husband, the Earl of Sparrowdale, died. She soon found out that her deceased husband had several illegitimate children scattered about. She decided to hire a young private eye, Lord Lowell, to help her locate them so she could offer them the home and love they deserved!

A Regency Romance with a serious plot, for a change! Most Regency Romances show the couple forced together for reasons that in today's age would be considered ridiculous. (Such as a nosy person seeing the couple kiss.) Not so here! THIS book has an all together different approach to bringing the main couple together. I thought this to be a wonderful story!

Rating:
Summary: Not in her usual style and better for it!
Review: Although I enjoy humor in Regency novels, I usually find Barbara Metzger's usual style something of a distraction and frivolous - so I bought this one on the strength of the review that said is was "darker" than her usual fare. True! and I liked it for that reason.
This book features a couple of complex characters not from the usual background - Minerva(Mina) daughter of a wealthy Cit, recent widow of a truly apalling old man who left behind a string of illegitmate children and Lord Lowell (younger son of a duke) still living with his mother (who is NICE) and with not a lot of money - doing detective work to add to his income and have an interesting career (NOT hobby). Through their search for the lost children we watch them grow to like and respect each other as well as fall in love.
Although there is humor aplenty with the antics of a mongeral dog and a dieaway cousin, there is also plenty of a serious nature - conditions in the orphanage come immediately to mind - drawing a picture of Regency England not usually shown in the books of this genre.
Recommended! However, fans of a lighthearted romp - avoid this one - you won't like it!

Rating:
Summary: Not in her usual style and better for it!
Review: Although I enjoy humor in Regency novels, I usually find Barbara Metzger's usual style something of a distraction and frivolous - so I bought this one on the strength of the review that said is was "darker" than her usual fare. True! and I liked it for that reason.
This book features a couple of complex characters not from the usual background - Minerva(Mina) daughter of a wealthy Cit, recent widow of a truly apalling old man who left behind a string of illegitmate children and Lord Lowell (younger son of a duke) still living with his mother (who is NICE) and with not a lot of money - doing detective work to add to his income and have an interesting career (NOT hobby). Through their search for the lost children we watch them grow to like and respect each other as well as fall in love.
Although there is humor aplenty with the antics of a mongeral dog and a dieaway cousin, there is also plenty of a serious nature - conditions in the orphanage come immediately to mind - drawing a picture of Regency England not usually shown in the books of this genre.
Recommended! However, fans of a lighthearted romp - avoid this one - you won't like it!

Rating:
Summary: Very good Romance
Review: If you like Amanda Quick Regency Romances you will probably like this one by Barbara Metzger. Here the mystery and romance are much more important than the Regency setting. I loved all the characters and the way the main characters built a friendship before a romance. I gave this book 5 stars because there are way too few Regency Romances where the two main characters are smart, kind, and totally respectful of one another. Thank you Ms. Metzger!